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Commitments and Contingencies (Notes)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2013
Commitments and Contingencies [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies
Commitments and Contingencies
Litigation
In the ordinary conduct of our business, we are from time to time subject to lawsuits, investigations and claims, including environmental claims and employee-related matters. Although we cannot predict with certainty the ultimate resolution of lawsuits, investigations and claims asserted against us, including civil penalties or other enforcement actions, we do not believe that any currently pending legal proceeding or proceedings to which we are a party will have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Rate Regulation of Petroleum Pipelines
The rates and terms and conditions of service on certain of our pipelines are subject to regulation by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”) under the Interstate Commerce Act (“ICA”) and by the state regulatory commissions in the states in which we transport crude oil and refined products, including the Railroad Commission of Texas, the Louisiana Public Service Commission, and the Arkansas Public Service Commission. Certain of our pipeline systems are subject to such regulation and have filed tariffs with the FERC. We also comply with the reporting requirements for these pipelines. Other of our pipelines have received a waiver from application of FERC's tariff requirements but will comply with other regulatory requirements.
The FERC regulates interstate transportation under the ICA, the Energy Policy Act of 1992 and the rules and regulations promulgated under those laws. The ICA and its implementing regulations require that tariff rates for interstate service on oil pipelines, including pipelines that transport crude oil and refined products in interstate commerce (collectively referred to as “petroleum pipelines”), be just and reasonable and non-discriminatory and that such rates and terms and conditions of service be filed with the FERC. Under the ICA, shippers may challenge new or existing rates or services. The FERC is authorized to suspend the effectiveness of a challenged rate for up to seven months, though rates are typically not suspended for the maximum allowable period. Tariff rates are typically contractually subject to increase or decrease on July 1 of each year, beginning on July 1, 2013, by the amount of any change in FERC oil pipeline index or, in the case of the east Texas marketing agreement and the Tyler Throughput and Tankage Agreement, to other inflation based indexes; provided, however, that in no event will the fees be adjusted below the amount initially set forth in the applicable agreement.
While the FERC regulates rates for shipments of crude oil or refined products in interstate commerce, state agencies may regulate rates and service for shipments in intrastate commerce. We own pipeline assets in Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana.
Environmental Health and Safety
We are subject to various federal, state and local environmental and safety laws enforced by agencies including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (the "EPA"), the U.S. Department of Transportation ("DOT") / Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, the U.S. Department of Labor / Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, the Texas Railroad Commission, the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (the "ADEQ") and the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation as well as other state and federal agencies. Numerous permits or other authorizations are required under these laws for the operation of our terminals, pipelines, and related operations, and may be subject to revocation, modification and renewal.
These laws and permits raise potential exposure to future claims and lawsuits involving environmental and safety matters which could include soil and water contamination, air pollution, personal injury and property damage allegedly caused by substances which we manufactured, handled, used, released or disposed, or that relate to pre-existing conditions for which we have assumed responsibility. We believe that our current operations are in substantial compliance with existing environmental and safety requirements. However, there have been and will continue to be ongoing discussions about environmental and safety matters between us and federal and state authorities, including notices of violations, citations and other enforcement actions, some of which have resulted or may result in changes to operating procedures and in capital expenditures. While it is often difficult to quantify future environmental or safety related expenditures, we anticipate that continuing capital investments and changes in operating procedures will be required for the foreseeable future to comply with existing and new requirements as well as evolving interpretations and more strict enforcement of existing laws and regulations.
Magnolia Station Crude Oil Release
On March 9, 2013, a release of crude oil was detected within a pumping facility at our Magnolia Station located west of Delek's El Dorado, Arkansas refinery (the "El Dorado Refinery"). The pumping facility is owned by our subsidiary SALA Gathering Systems, LLC. Since detecting the release we have worked to contain the release, recover the released crude oil and remediate those areas impacted by the release, coordinating our efforts with the EPA and state authorities to restore the impacted area to the satisfaction of the appropriate regulatory authorities. As of the date of this filing, we believe we have substantially completed all necessary remediation, restoration and monitoring of the areas affected by the crude oil release, although there are on-going discussions with ADEQ regarding whether additional monitoring or remediation of soil may be necessary. The release did not impact the delivery of crude oil from the Magnolia Station to the El Dorado Refinery and did not interrupt the operations of the El Dorado Pipeline connected to the Magnolia Station.
We believe the total costs and liabilities associated with this event are immaterial to our operations and financial results as Delek is required, pursuant to the terms of the Omnibus Agreement (as described in Note 18—Related Party Transactions) to pay to us any costs in excess of $0.25 million with respect to this event that we incurred as a result of the failure at the pumping facility and resulting release.
Macedonia Crude Oil Release
On October 7, 2013, a release of crude oil was identified from a gathering line near Macedonia, Arkansas. Approximately 40 barrels of crude oil were recovered from an adjacent small creek. Other than maintaining booms on a portion of the creek, cleanup operations for the creek were essentially concluded in November 2013; however, remediation of impacted soils along the pipeline remains to be completed. Based on current information available to us, we do not believe the total costs associated with this event, including any fines or penalties and net of partial insurance reimbursement, will have a material adverse effect upon our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Contracts and Agreements
Substantially all of the petroleum products we sell in west Texas are purchased from two suppliers, Noble Petro, Inc. ("Noble Petro") and on Asset Services, L.P. ("Magellan"). Under the terms of a supply contract (the "Abilene Contract") with Noble Petro, we are able to purchase up to 20,350 bpd of petroleum products at the Abilene, Texas terminal, which we own, for sales at the Abilene and San Angelo terminals and to exchange barrels with third parties. We lease the Abilene and San Angelo, Texas terminals to Noble Petro, under a separate Terminal and Pipeline Lease and Operating Agreement, with a term that runs concurrent with that of the Abilene Contract. The Abilene Contract expires on December 31, 2017. There are no options to renew the contract.
Under the terms of our contract with Magellan (the "East Houston contract"), we had in 2013 the right to purchase up to 7,000 bpd of refined products for resale at third-party terminals located in Aledo, Odessa and Frost, Texas along the Magellan Orion Pipeline. We owned the inventory purchased under the East Houston contract. To hedge our exposure to fluctuations in commodity prices for the period between our purchase of products from Magellan and subsequent sales to our customers, from time to time we entered into Gulf Coast product swap arrangements with respect to the products we purchased. The East Houston contract was terminated in January 2014. We are currently discussing the possibility of a new contract with Magellan and are purchasing spot barrels on similar terms from third parties for sale to wholesale customers.
Letters of Credit
As of December 31, 2013, we had in place letters of credit totaling $12.0 million under the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement primarily securing obligations with respect to gasoline and diesel purchases. No amounts were drawn by beneficiaries of these letters of credit at December 31, 2013.
Operating Leases
We lease certain equipment and have surface leases under various operating lease arrangements, most of which provide the option, after the initial lease term, to renew the leases. None of these lease arrangements include fixed rental rate increases. Lease expense for all operating leases for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 totaled $0.5 million, $0.5 million, and $0.3 million, respectively.
We have a five-year ground lease agreement with Lion Oil effective November 7, 2012 for the land on which an above ground storage tank and related facilities are located. The land measures approximately seven acres of Lion Oil's refinery site. The tank and related facilities are used for the storage and throughput of such crude oil or other hydrocarbon substances or any resulting refined products.   The fees paid to Lion Oil were insignificant for 2013.
In connection with the Tyler Acquisition, we and Delek entered into a lease and access agreement with respect to the real property at the Tyler Terminal and Tank Assets. Under this agreement, we will lease from Delek the real property on which the Tyler Terminal and Tank Assets are located for $100 annually, paid in advance, with an initial term of 50 years with automatic renewal for a maximum of four successive 10-year periods thereafter.